President Ramaphosa hosts Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, President of Madagascar, after turbulent political transition

President Cyril Ramaphosa has received his Malagasy counterpart, President Michaël Randrianirina, for a working visit at Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria.

The Presidency stated that the meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest.

Madagascar, officially known as the Republic of Madagascar, is a large island nation located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa, separated from the mainland by the Mozambique Channel. It is the world’s fourth-largest island and is home to an estimated population of more than 30 million people. The population, known collectively as the Malagasy, comprises diverse ethnic groups with strong African and Austronesian roots, as well as historical Arab influences.

Madagascar is renowned for its unique biodiversity, with the majority of its plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth.

Politically and economically, the country is part of the Southern African region and is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), through which it participates in regional integration efforts focused on trade, security, and development cooperation.

The visit on Friday follows a turbulent political transition in Madagascar, a country that has experienced repeated political instability since independence. Former president Andry Rajoelina was removed from office in October 2025 following escalating political tensions, protests, and divisions within the security establishment, amid allegations of authoritarianism and disputed governance.

As pressure mounted, Rajoelina fled the country, marking a decisive turning point in the crisis. His departure paved the way for a transitional process in which senior military figures and political actors played a central role.

Colonel Randrianirina, who had emerged as a vocal critic of Rajoelina, became a key figure during this period. In November 2023, he was arrested and charged with instigating a military mutiny and attempting a coup d’état. He was brought before court on the same day and detained at Tsiafahy prison, a high-security facility.

He was released in February 2024 after receiving a suspended sentence on a reduced charge linked to state security and subsequently returned to the military academy CAPSAT. Despite the controversy surrounding his detention, Madagascar’s domestic legal processes later moved to formalise the political transition.

The country’s constitutional court confirmed Randrianirina as president, ruling that the process leading to his assumption of office complied with constitutional requirements. The court’s decision was seen as pivotal in averting further instability, although concerns remain about the role of the military in Madagascar’s political life.

South Africa and Madagascar established diplomatic relations in 1994 and have signed several bilateral agreements, including cooperation in air transport, merchant shipping, and science and technology. The two countries also collaborate within regional and continental bodies such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Union.

Pretoria has previously expressed concern about political developments in Madagascar, calling for calm and respect for democratic processes. The Presidency said South Africa continues to support a peaceful resolution to political challenges in the island state, grounded in democracy, the rule of law, and sustainable development.

The working visit forms part of ongoing regional diplomatic efforts to strengthen bilateral ties while promoting stability and constitutional governance in Southern Africa.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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